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HISTORY 



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BY REV. AMASA LORING. 












BROWW THURSTOK, PIUKTER, PORTLAND. 



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HISTORY or SHAPLEIGH. 



BY REV. AMASA LORING. 



What the Fathers have told us, we will not hide from the Children." 




PORTLAND: 

PRINTED BY B. THURSTON. 

1854. 



At a Legal Town Meeting of the inhabitants of Shapleigh, Dec. 24, 1863, it was 

voted to purchase two hundred and seventy-five copies of the following History, 
when published, for general distribution through the town. 

Fir?t settlement of Shapleigh commenced in the Winter of 1772 and 3 — by 
Joseph Jellison and Son. 

Entered by Claimants — May, 1773. 

Claim established by the General Court of Massachusetts — Oct. 30, 1778. 

Incorporated as the town of Shapleigh — March 6, 1785. 

The West Parish set oflf and incorporated, as Acton, March 6, 1830. 

A portion of Shapleigh adjoining Dam's Mill's, annexed to Newfield, June 1844. 






ciK</W^ ftWOUAy^jCx^ 



HISTORY. 



EXPLORATION. 

The white man first penetrated this howling wilderness, in 
pursuit of game and timber^ — nature's spontaneous productions. 
The hunter trarersed the margins of its numerous streams and 
quiet ponds, to trap the beaver, otter, and musk-quash ; with vv'hich 
those waters then teemed, — and crossed its rolling swells, or climbed 
its rugged hills, to drop the moose, deer, and bear ; those early 
occupants of its solitudes. 

The virgin soil bore a noble growth of pine and oak, whose lofty 
height, straight, sound and giant trunks, out-rival all that has suc- 
ceeded them. The finestlumberof every description, — ship-timber 
convenient, and of a superior quality, could there be found, in rich 
abundance. As it was not far from navigable waters, its valleys, 
plains, and timber tracts were early threaded with logging roads, 
over which the long pine and sturdy oak were hauled to Berwick 
and Portsmouth. 

It is said that the officers of the Crown explored these regions, 
and set the " Broad-Arroic''' upon its largest pines, by which 
" sign-royal," all persons were forbid to cut them, save for " His 
Majesty's Navy." A Royal ordinance had been passed, that all 
pine trees, standing upon land claimed by the crown which meas- 
ured more than two feet in diameter, " should be reserved for 
masting the royal navy." 

So good a report of its soil, growth, and other facilities for set- 
tlement, went out from both classes of adventurers, — its hunters 
and lumbermen, — that it awakened a desire to break in ujion its 
forests, in some, and a disposition to obtain its proprietorship, in 
others. Hence the title to its soil began to be agitated about the 
time that the first settlers " lifted up the ax upon its thick trees." 



HISTORY OF SHAPLEIGH. 



PROPRIETORSHIP. 



TIjerc were two distinct claimants to the soil of New Englain:. 
•' to wit," the nriti-sh Crown, and the Native Indians. The claim 
of the former was groundeil on the fact of discovery, and on the 
higher right to reclaim savtiL^e icastrs, subdue them, and convert 
them into fruitful fields; — the claim of the latter, on the fact of 
first and actual possession. The practices of civilized nations, the 
enlarged benefits that would be conferred upon the world by the.r 
dispossession, and the evident design of the Great Proprietor of a.! 
things that the earth should be brouglit into its most producti\t 
state, sustained the former claim ; — and the law of possession, ai.i 
the equal rights of the races, sustained the latter. The rights of 
discovery gave the English the precedence of all civilized nations, 
but did not of themselves authorize them to dispossess the Natives 
unceremoniously. If they had a claim which the " laws of na- 
tions," or the principles of unbending right, would maintain them 
in, justice to them required that it should be honorably extinguished. 

But did the occupation of these regions by the Aborigines con- 
stitute a real, a substantial possession r They cultivated the soil 
but little. They occupied it mainly as hunting grounds. They 
roved from place to place, like the Nomads of the East, w ithout 
fixed habitations. So that not the soil, but the game that roamed 
over it, was the object of their pursuit. If they had a claim on 
the soil, it was barely as so much hunting ground. And as civiliza- 
tion has a preeminence over savage life, — the circuit sufficient to 
sustain one by the chase, would support two thousand when brought 
under cultivation, — the Natives were under a moral obligation, 
either to adopt the arts of civilization, or to re'linguish their right 
at a fair equivalent, and retire before the march of improvement. 

The crown of England did not stop to examine these points, 
but without any regard to the claims of the Aborigines, granted 
large tracts of lands to companies and individuals by Royal 
Charters, Patents, or Deeds ; and thereby made them Proprietors, 
bodies politic, sometimes subordinate governors over those limits. 
In this manner, York, Cumberland, and a i)art of Lincoln Counties 
were granted by Charles 1. to Sir Fernando Gorges, in 1639. 
Under the authority of this Charter, the first tier of towns upon 
the sea coast, in York County, was surveyed and conveyed to their 
respective proprietors, by Tho's. Gorges, a nephew of Sir Fer- 
nando, who acted as Deputy Governor under liis uncle. The 
natives were then numerous. And however others might regard 
their claims, they were disposed to insist upon tliem, and to defend 
them with the tomahawk and scalping knife. And as they would 
sell large tracts for a trifle, proprietors and settlers found it a 
matter of economy and safety to extinguish their title, or to pacify 
ilicm by such purchases. 



PROPRIETORSHIP. 5 

IT Hence nearly all of York County, except the townships on the 
coast, was deeded to different proprietors, by Indian Chiefs. 

In 1676 the heirs of Gorges conveyed their right to the colony 
of Massachusetts ; reserving those tracts which had been deeded 
to certain individuals by the native Sagamores. 

The Provincial officers were disposed to respect the Indian 
titles, and the holders of them usually retained, undisturbed, the 
tracts thus conveyed. Therefore all scruples concerning a moral 
and equitable title to the soil of York County are removed : for 
it comes primarily from the natives, — and has been sanctioned 
and confirmed by Provincial and State authority. 

So it was, with the title to the town of Shaplcigh : — which was 
obtained in the following manner : In 1661 Captain Sunda, an 
Indian Chief of the Ossipee tribe, deeded to Francis Small of 
Scarboro', the Ossipee tract, — embracing what are now called the 
" Ossipee towns," — to wit, Cornish, Parsonsfield, Newfield, Lime- 
rick and Limington, a record of which is on the County Registry. 

A tradition has come down, which makes this conveyance char- 
acteristic of those adventurous times — It runs thus : 

Small, in the winter, was keeping a " trading house," upon this 
tract, somewhere in the present town of Limington or Cornish. 
Many of the Indians became largely inc^ebted to him, promising 
furs in the spring. Plotting upon an easier way to extinguish their 
debt, they conspired together to surround his house, on a certain 
night, and to reduce it, with its contents and occupant to ashes. 
This chief, being apprised of it, went and secretly informed Small, 
and besought him to make a timely escape. 

Small at first regarded this as a cunning contrivance to deprive 
him of his property ; but for this, the Chief generously promised 
to remunerate him, by a conveyance of lands. But knowing 
something of savage vengeance, and reflecting that " discretion is 
the better part of valor," on the day previous to the night named 
for the attack, he left his house in its usual state, and retired to a 
neighboring hill, where he concealed himself, to see whether the 
Sachem's account was a friendly warning or a wily trick. 

When the shades and silence of night had come, the flame? of 
that trading house lighted up the surrounding forest, and revealed 
a host of ferocious savages, carousing over the supposed destruc- 
tion of its inmate. 

Small, of course, hastily and secretly left those regions and 
returned to Scarboro'. 

Captain Sunda, faithful to his promise, afterwards met jiim at 
Saco, and gave him the above-mentioned deed to indemnify him 
for his loss. 

No one will endorse this story, but certain points in it are well 
authenticated. It is a well established fact that Francis Small kept 
a trading house at that time, and in those regious. The claimants 



O HISTORY OF SUAPLEIGH. 

under him so stated in a [jctition to the General Court of Massa- 
chusetts. 

A Mr. Chadbournc of Berwick filed an afiidavit, which is still 
preserved, staling that " when he was out on a scouting party, scour- 
ing those regions, in the Indian wars, another man observed 
to him, that they were near the place where Small's trading house 
was, and on going a little further, they saw the spot where the 
house had stood, and drank water from a well there." It is also 
an established fact, that Mai(jr Nicholas Shapleigh of Kittery, was 
in company with Small in ilie trading house enterprise ; — and that 
Small deeded to him, an undivided half of all the lands conveyed 
by Sunda's deed. 

A long period of Indian wars now commenced. Small, per- 
haps fearing that he should Lc an object of savage vengeance, went 
to Cape Cod and died there, but his family continued in Scarboro'. 

These wars suspended all new settlements, and carried desola- 
tion into many of the towns already settled. Hence deeds of these 
new sections, from any source, were for a long time, but a " dead 
letter." 

At length these cruel and detsructivc wars were ended. The 
foe no longer lay in ambush by the path of the white man, nor 
drove him to the crowdoil block house. The settlements began to 
recover from their reduced state, and the tide of civilization, began 
to set back into the unbroken forest. Sanford, including Alfred, 
was surveyed in 1734, and the settlement commenced about six 
years later. This was at first called Phillipstown from the Phillips 
family, to whom it was deeded by the Indians. 

Lebanon was surveyed in 1733, and the permanent settlement 
of it commenced about ten ye^rs later. This retained its Indian 
name, Tow woh, till its incorporation. 

Lyman began to be settled in 1764, and Waterboro' soon after, 
called Massabcsic, from the pond lying west of " Shaker Village. 

The territory of Shapleigh lay next in the path of civilization, 
as it was pressing back the lorest frontier, and claimants began to 
look up their titles. 

In 1770, the original "Deed" from Captain Sunda to Francis 
Small was found by his family among his papers, having lain unre- 
corded more than one hundred years. The heirs of Nicholas 
Shapleigh, it seems, well knew that they had an interest in the tract 
thus deeded. Honestly supposing that the '• Shajjleigh Township" 
was included in the tract conveyed, they called a legal meeting of 
said heirs, at the Inn of \\'illiam Leighton in Kittery, on the first 
Monday of March 1772, and took preliminary measures " to go up 
and possess the land." 

After several adjournments and meetings, they appointed Joshua 
Hubbard and Dependent Shapleigh a Committee, to go and run out 
the tract. 



PROPRIETOKSHIP. 



This committee, accompanied bv James Warren, Surveyor, and 
Joseph Hasty and Gilbert Warren, Chainmen, went into the wil- 
derness in May 1773, and run a line around it, which eventuallv 
became its original boundary. The Committee also cleared a small 
opening, enclosed it with a fence, and planted it with corn and 
potatoes, in presence of this survey company, as a formal act of 
possession. c< n 

An undivided half of the tract originally conveyed to bmall 
was made over to Maj. Nicholas Shapleigh. His heirs early en- 
deavored to effect a partition by honorable and fair negotiation. 
They aopointed Committees to go to Scarboro', and treat with the 
heirs of Small, proposing at first, to take the Parsonstown town- 
ship (now Parsonsfield), the " Shapleigh township," and enough 
lying on towards the New Hampshire line to make up one half ot 
the whole amount conveyed. 

It does not appear that this proposal was accepted in full, though 
Parsonsfield and Shapleigh were conceded to them, for they after- 
wards voted to petition the Supreme Court for a legal division. It 
appears however the division was amicably effected at length ; the 
heirs of Shapleigh taking Parsonsfield, Shapleigh, and one half of 
Limerick ; and the heirs of Small the rest, " to wit," Cornish, 
Limington, Newfield, and one-half of Limerick— a division by no 
means equitable to the heirs of Shapleigh, as the sequel will shov . 

The Shapleigh township, as surveyed by the above-mentioned 
Committee lies entirely south of the Little Ossipee ; and was not 
not included in Sunda's deed to Small. How then it may be asked 
were these claimants entitled to it ? Proprietors, who held lands 
south and east of it, by Indian deeds, did not extend their claims 
over it. These proprietors justly claimed a large tract lying con- 
tiguous to it on the north. Boundaries were not then well-defined 
and known. The Colonial governments were at that time engaged 
in contests with the Crown, which led on to the Revolution ; sothat 
subjects of this kind could not be closely scrutinized. 

The heirs of Shapleigh therefore, it may be, under a misappre- 
hension, stepped in and took possession of it. Nor did they for 
some time seem to doubt the validity of their claim. They lotted 
it out, in part ; apportioned it among the different share holders : 
granted and sold lots ; made reserves for public uses ; and encour- 
aged the peaceable and lawful settlement of it. They consented 
to a division with the heirs of Small, much to their disadvantage, 
if their claim to this tract was not valid. 

At length the validity of their claim was questioned. Two fam- 
ilies were settled upon it, before they run out the township and 
took possession of it,— others came and settled, before the township 
was fully lotted and assigned to separate proprietors. Trespassers 
were committing depredations upon the timber it bore, and they 
never failed to dispute any title but their own. 



O HISTORY OP SUAPLKian, 

The Proprietors attempted to maintain their claim. Agents 
were appointed to prosecutf trespassers, and to protect the timber, 
but while tlic title was doubtful they forebore to do it. The Proprie- 
tors evidently began to tremble ; for in 1777, they voted to grant 
to tlic Hon. James Sullivan, one half of the Limerick townsliip, 
on condition that he would defend all lawsuits brought against their 
title. ° 

The ne.\t year (1778) they employed Mr. Sullivan to present a 
petition to the General Court, to have the southern boundary of the 
township established ; concealing under this modest request the 
question of their title to it, which must of course be confirmed if 
this boundary was thus established. 

In this petition, they set forth in addition to their claim from its 
connection with the Ossipee tract, that they had expended consid- 
erable money in surveying it, laying it out and making roads ; had 
reserved certain lots for public uses ; and had at that time nearly 
forty families peaceably and lawfully settled upon it." 

But at this time the Country was engaged in a burdensome war, 
and the Province of Massachusetts was abandoning its old English 
Charter and adopting a constitution, consequently Legislative busi- 
ness of that kind lingered. For some time, the petition made no 
progress. The Proprietors cndeavord to urge it on, and added 
the Hon. Edward Cutts, who had been one of the Provincial coun- 
cil, to Hon. J. Sullivan, as an Agent to prosecute it, before the 
Legislature. While the subject continued in suspense, a way was 
opened to effect the object. 

The General Court, in May 1781, passed a resolve appointing a 
Committee on " Eastern Lands," a part of whose duty was to 
examine private claims, and to confirm peaceable and honest set- 
tlers of tlio public domain, in their title to lots taken up and 
improved by them. This Committee consisted of Hon. Jedudiah 
Preble of Falmouth, Hon. Jonathan Creenleaf of New Glouces- 
ter, Hon. David Sewall of York, John Lewis, Esq., of North 
Yarmouth, and William Lithgow, Esq., of Georgetown. 

The proprietors then concluded to bring their claim before this 
Committee. They accordingly appointed Hon. Benjamin Chad- 
bourne, (who had been a member of the Provincial Council, and 
was now a member of the Governor's Council), the Hon. James 
Sullivan, and Capt. Wm. Rodgers, as Agents to effect it, and to 
manage the cause before them. A petition to that effect was pre- 
sented to this Committee, accompanied with an agreement, to abide 
their decision provided the general Court would confirm it. 

A question had arisen about the boundaries between this town- 
ship and the Phillips tract, which lay on the south and east of it. 

Capt. Sunda,and l-'lnellin Habinowell, an Indian Chief of Saco 
River, deeded to .Maj. Wm. Phillips about the year lG02,a territo- 
ry extending from Saco River to Lebanon, and this unappropriated 



PROPRIETORSHIP. 9 

territory, and from Berwick to the Little Ossipee, excepting Lyman 
which had been previously conveyed to John Saunders. Sir Fer- 
nando Gorges in 1670 confirmed this title, with more definite 
boundaries. The Major's wife, Mrs. Bridget Phillips, out-lived her 
husband, and by will, conveyed it to Peleg Sandford, her son by 
a former marriage. 

Sandford and Waterboro', and Lebanon likewise were bounded 
by lines running North-East and South-West, and such as were at 
right-angles with them. 

As this was run out, with its south and east lines, directly East and 
West, and North and South, its boundaries only touched the most 
northern corner of Lebanon and the most western of Waterboro', 
leaving four triangles between it and these contiguous towns. 

The Committee, which run out, and took possession of the Shap- 
leigh Township, went with the same Survey Company, run a line 
around them, and ascertained their respective dimensions — but it 
does not appear that the " Shaplcigh Proprietors" claimed them, 
excepting part of the tract lying on the N. W. side of Lebanon. 

It was necessary to have this question concerning the boundaries, 
examined and adjusted. Hence they solicited the claimants under 
Mrs. Bridget Phillips, to submit their claim to the same committee 
of reference. 

To this the Phillips heirs consented, and appointed Col. J, Wa- 
ters, Hon. Tristram Dalton, John IMason, Esqr., and John Avery, 
Esq., Agents, to manage it before them. 

These claimants respectively agreed, that if their claims should 
be established, they would not distress settlers already upon the 
territory, and would sell them land as cheap as they were selling 
lands of the same quality to others. 

This Committee, in the Summer of 1782, met in Sanford, and 
went into a thorough investigation of the different claims. 

On the 19th of July they reported to the General Court of l\fass- 
achusetts, in substance as follows : — 

'• After hearing statements of both parties, examining original 
deeds, and obtaining information from all available sources, it ap- 
peared to them that the claimants under Mrs. Bridget Phillips were 
entitled to all the land lying above or West of the head line (i. e. 
the line on N. W. side) of Biddeford, Arundal and Wells, to the 
South-Western and North Western lines of Sanford ; — thence from 
the North-East corner of Sanford adjoining Waterboro, on a North 
West line till it struck the Little Ossipee river — thence by said 
river till it entered the Saco — thence on the Saco river to the 
North- West corner of Biddeford. This included the towns of San- 
ford, as originally surveyed, with Alfred, Lyman, Hollis, and Wa- 
terford, together with quite a large tract on the North East corner 
of the Shaplcigh Township. This did not embrace the Southern 
Gore, which lay between Sanford, Lebanon and " Shapleigh 



10 HISTORY OF SHAPLEIGH. 

Township," nor the South-Eastern Gore,now known as Alfred Gore, 
whic-h Wire uflervvarils uttuclied to Lebanon and Sanford. 

Why Lyman was not exctpted, I cannot understand, for it ap- 
pears to be a fact in iiistory that it was never claimed by the Phil- 
lij)S heirs. 

This Committee further reported, iliat the territory called the 
" Ossipee Tract," in their opinion, was the lawful property of its 
claimants. And as the Sluipleigh Proprietors apprehended that 
they had a claim to lands Suuth of the Liltlc Ossipee, and had en- 
tered upon it, expending considerable money in making settlements 
upon it, tliey recommend that these Proprietors have the tract grant- 
ed to them, included within the following boundaries — on the fol- 
lowing rondilions, to wit: — 

" Ik'ginninf; at the Point on the line running from the North-East 
corner of Sanford, North-VVest to Little Ossipee river — said Point 
to be ISO rocJs from the North-East corner of Sanford — thence 
South 1070 rods, till it strikes Sanford North-Wcst Line — then 
West 720 rods — then South 250 rods — then West nearly six miles 
to Salmon Falls river: — then by said river and New Hampshire 
line — (called " Province Line", run by Gov. Belcher, in 1711) 10 
miles to Little Ossipee Pond — then on this pond and river, till it 
struck the line of the Phillips claim — then South-East on the line 
of the Phillips claim, till it came to the point first mentioned — 
which was theSoulh-East corner of Waterboro, on " Fort Ridge," 
likewise to include the Small Gore of 300 acres which lay South 
of this line, and between New Hampsiiire line and Lebanon; — 
provided they faithfully reserve the lots already appropriated by 
tlicm fur public uses, and pay .£400, current money, into tie State 
Treasury within one year." 

This report, being presented- to the General Court, was com- 
mitted to a Joint Committee, consisting of lion. Abraham Fuller 
and Nathaniel Wells of the Senate — and of Mr. Bartlett, Mr. 
Vans anil Col. Grow of the House ; which, after adding to the 
conditions that the Proprietors pay one-half of the expense of the 
Committee which sat upon it, recommended its passage. 

Tlie Bill accordingly passed both branches of the Legislature, 
and Oct. 30, 1782 was signed by Nath'l Gorham, Speaker of the 
House, and Sam'l Adams, President of the Senate ; John Avery, 
being Secretary of Slate, and John Hancock, Governor. 

The Southern boundary as thus established did not ditfer materi- 
ally from the line ran by Surveyor Warren in 1773. But the East 
line, instead of continuing North the whole length, as originally 
run, sheered to the North AVest from the South- West corner of 
Waterford, and continued in this course till it struck the Little 
Ossipee. This would cut otf six or eight hundred acres, originally 
embraced. The Shapleigh Proprietors purchased this of the Phil- 
lips heirs and paid them £G0 for it. The East line was therefore 
restored to its first land-marks. 



PROPRIETORSHIP. 



11 



It will now be seen, as this township was not included in the 
tract held jointly by the heirs of Small and Shapleigh, the lattt^r 
did not obtain a full share of the tract originally conveyed, in the 
division with the heirs of Small. Yet they appeared to be well 
pleased with the terms, on which their title was confirmed. At the 
next meeting after the Bill passed, they voted " to confirm a grant 
of 100 acres to Hon. B. Chadbourne,and also to make him a Pi'o- 
prietor in the Township, to share one forty-fourth part of the 
whole original survey. This was to compensate him for his efforts 
in conducting their cause before the Committee and the General 
Court, as he had borne the principal part of the burden. 

They also took measures, to raise the sum required by the terms 
of the grant, and assessed =£'640, upon the share-holders. But the 
collection was not seasonably made ; or else was not completed. — 
Money was hired of Hon. David Sewall, to meet the demand, and 
time elapsed, suits were brought, shares were advertised, and 
probably sold, before the debt was extinguished. 

The Proprietors now feeling that they were " Lords of the soil," 
resumed their business with redoubled efficiency — and took meas- 
ures to secure an act of incorporation. 

The names of those who were the lawful heirs of Maj. N. Shap- 
leigh — and who were admitted to right of Proprietors by the con- 
sent of the claimants, will now be given : — 



Samuel Shapleigh, 
John Shapleigh, 
James Shapleigh, 
Dependent Shapleigh, 
Elisha Shapleigh, 
Joshua Hubbard, 
Nathan Bartlett Jr., 
Simon Jenncss, 
Jonathan Say ward, Esq., 
Hon. James Sullivan, 
Daniel Moulton, 
James Gowen, 
Hon. Edward Cutts, 
Jonathan Moulton, 
Capt. John Frost, 
Dea. Wm. Leighton, 
Jonathan C. Chadbourne, 
Alexander Scammel, 
William Frost, 
Capt. Samuel Stacy, 
Samuel Jenness, 
Moses Hanscom, 



Dr. David Pierce, 
Rev. Alpheus Spring, 
Capt. John H. Bartlett, 
Nathaniel Remick, 
Capt. Phillip Hubbard, 
Gen. Ichabod Goodwin,. 
Capt. James Garvin, 
Humphrey Scammon,Jr. 
Nicholas Scammon, 
Wm. Stacy, 
Dennis Fernald, 
Capt. Wm. Rodgers, 
Robert Rodgers, 
Dea. John Hill, 
Maj. Samuel Leighton, 
Wm. Parsons, 
Tobias Fernald, Jr., 
Mark Fernald, 
Robert Parker, 
Andrew P. Fernald, 
Hon. Benj. Chadbourne. 



The name of a Rev. Mr. Foster appears among the Proprietors, 



12 



HISTORY OF SnAPLEIGH. 



in some of their business, and he, probably, made the 44th — 
though it is not in the list — as recorded by the Clerk. 

A fjuesiion some time afterwards arose, in respect to the South- 
ern boiiiidury upon which C<jmmissioners were appointed by the 
State. These Commissioners run olF a strip 30 rods wide, form- 
erly claimed by the Sha[.l.jigh Proprietors and attached it to the 
town (jf Lebanon. The Proprietors voted to indemnify the settlers 
who hnil purchased the lots thus reduced. 



GEOORAPHICAL VIKW. 

The Township, as thus surveyed and incorporated, was bounded 
on the North by the Little Ossipee Pond and River which separate 
it from Ncwlirld ; on the West by Wakefield, N. H., and Salmon 
Falls river which separate it from Milton, N. H. ; on the South by 
Lebanon and Sanfonl ; on the East bv Alfred and Waterboro. 

Its length North and South was lO'miles ; its breadth 8 miles; 
containing, according to Williamson, 32,ir)0 acres. 

Nearly one fourth part of its surface (7000 acres) are plains.lying 
in the North and North-East part; the remainder is divided into 
precipitous hills ; pleasant swells or ridges ; low marshes or mead- 
ows, and extensive ponds of water. The plains were originally 
covered with a valuable Pitch Pine growth, interspersed with Nor- 
way and White Pine ; which the Pitch Pine of a diminitive size 
has succeeded, thickly set with whortleberry bushes and and t^ing- 
ling shrub-oak. 

The hills and ridges bore a heavy growth of White, Red, and 
Yellow Oak, Beech, White and Grey Ijirch and Maple, intermixed 
with Pino, Spruce and flemlock. 

Upon its low lands were found the Alder, Oak, White Maple, 
Birch, and huge W^hite Pines. 

Ponds and streams of water abound, which afford many availa- 
ble mill-privileges. Great East. Pond, lying partly in this township 
and partly in New Hampshire, is an extensive sheet of water, from 
which the Salmon Falls river (lows, marking the boundary between 
Maine and New Hampshire in its whole course to the Piscatnqua, 
and affording several fine mill-sites. Gari'in\s Pond is connected 
with this. Near the New Hampshire corner is the liaJrh Pnnd. 
formerly called the Little Ossipee Pond, in which the Little Ussi- 
pec river has its source, which also atfords a steady and conven- 
ient supply of water for milling. This river receives a large branch 
from the Eastern part, called" Heath-Meudow Brook, which rises 
near the centre of the East Parish, and flows Northward — upon 
which several mills have been erected. 

Long Mousam Pond extended North and South, nearly in the 



GEOGRAPHICAL VIEW. 13 

centre of this township — above which lie two smaller called the 
Upper and Lower Goose Ponds. Still farther North and West lies 
Square Mousam Pond, approaching quite near to the last mentioned 
in a certain place, but having its outlet on the South West part, its 
waters flow quite a distance in a stream called " Hubbard Brook," 
before they reach Long Pond. This stream has in times past 
turned a mill. 

Mousam River drains off the waters of these Ponds, having three 
excellent 'and occupied Mill sites before it crosses its Southern 
boundary — though its distance is less than two miles. 

Another stream called " Pump-Box Brook " rises near the cen- 
tre of the East Parish, and by a very circuitous course passes Shap- 
leigh Corner, where it turns two or three mills a part of each year 
and enters Long Pond on the Eastern side. 

This chain of Ponds extending North and South through the cen- 
tre was skirted with Plains, unfit for settlement, nmking a natural 
division of the township. This led the Proprietors to divide the 
township into two Parishes, calling them the East and West res- 
pectively ; w hich the town, after its incorporation, confirmed ; and 
which eventually led to a permanent division. 

Its soil, as might be supposed, is various. The plains are not 
adapted to grass, and are but little cultivated, though with proper 
treatment they yield good corn and rye. The ridges are fertile, 
though considerably stony, and produce fine crops of corn and grain 
— and have been sure for wheat. The hills are very stony, though 
productive, if cultivated, and fine for pasturage. Its marshes and 
lowlands yield the meadow or low ground hay. 

Some of its ridges are as beautiful landscapes as can be found. 
As they are well defined, being bounded by plains or deep valleys, 
they have received distinctive names. Fort-Ridge stretches along 
upon the Eastern border, the highest and largest of any in that 
Parish. Its name is earlier than its settlement, and it is aot cer- 
tainly known whence it was derived. There is no account or tra- 
dition, that any stockade or garrison was ever located upon it. The 
only information that I could obtain in reference to it, is that when 
masts were cut in these regions, a short turn in the road was found 
necessary. A brow was therefore constructed upon which the long 
mast would be unloaded and swung round,and reloaded in the right 
direction to follow the turn in the road. This brow resembled a 
Fort, hence the name of " Fort Ridge." On the same side of the 
Pond there were Stanley's, Pillsbury's Bartlett's, Norton's and Lin- 
scot's Ridges — so named from their first or principal settlers. — 
On the West side there was Fox's, Hilton's, Brackett's, Cook's, 
Hubbard's, Young's and Leighton's. 

Cook's Ridge is higher than Fort Ridge, and from the summit of 
cither, nearly all of York County can be seen ; the adjoining por- 
tions of New Hampshire ; the White Hills in the North ; and th6 
Ocean, on the South East. 



II mSTORY OF SHAPLEIGH. 

South of the Plains in Xorth-East pnrts there rises some high 
steep hills, which were early called the " Peaked Mountains " — 
Amnnf,' these hills, and likosvise among certain hills on the West- 
ern side there is a peculiar shaped valley, called the " Hopper." 

Many of the ledges in this township are composed of (Iranite, 
and yield readily to the wedge and hammer. Ledges and stones 
are also found which contain sulphur and copperas, so much of the 
former that the smell of it is distinctly perceived in warm weather. 

Granite is found upon the West side of the Pond and an occa- 
sional boulder on the East side. A large portion of its stones bear 
a strikin" resemblance to Granite, but a close inspection shows that 
some of the elements of Granite are wanting. An occasional 
" lead " of tra|)-rock has been discovered here and there — and 
specimens of Plumbago, Red Ochre, and Hornblendhave been pick- 
ed uj). Iron ore has proved a most valuable mineral. A consid- 
erable extensive bed of it has been found upon the banks of the 
Little Ossipee, which has been worked and which yielded 40 per 
cent of pure iron. 



LOTTING AND APPORTIONING. 

In 1771, " the lotting out" of the township was commenced. 
The same Surveyor and Chainmen, who run out the tract, were 
employed to do it. It was separated into ten ranges running North 
and South, and numbered, 1, 2, 3, i^c, beginning on the East 
side. A strip two rods wide was thrown in between two adjoining 
ranges, to accommodate the settlers with roads, gratuitously. The 
southern part of the the western half, was lotted into portions of 
300 acres each, and numbered, 1, 2, 3, d:c., beginnLng at the 
southern boundary. 

^Vhcn this was done, and a plan was presented, the Proprietors 
met, and took measures to parcel it out, to the diflcrcnt owners. 
This was done by casting lots. Ballots containing the number 
and range of each lot, were put into a hat ; and others containing 
the name of each proprietor were put into another. Two persons 
then drew out, at a venture, from each hat; and the several Pro- 
prietors, took the lot whose number Avas drawn simultaneously with 
his name. Thus fifty-two lots, of 300 acres each, called " the 
first division of lots," were drawn and recorded, at the first allot- 
ment. Before commencing, they voted that if any proprietor 
could afterwards make it appear, that the lot drawn bv him was 
inferior in qtiality, to the average of the township, he should 
receive enough from the unappropriated land, to make it up. Such 
cases afterwards arose, and disinterested persons were appointed, 
to appraise the lot and to report what addition should be received. 

In the Spring of 1776, all of the remainder was lotted, except 



RESERVES FGR PUBLIC USES. 15 

the first three ranges. James Warren was employed to do it. and 
received as a compensation for the whole expense, £30. This 
was separated into 150 acre lots, and distributed among the several 
proprietors, in the same manner as the first. This was called the 
" Second Division." 

The 1,2 and 3 Ranges lay unlotted till their title was confirmed. 
It was then attended to — 3600 acres of this division was set off" to 
Capt. Robert Parker and Andrew P. Fernald, for some considera- 
tion not known ; some lots, and parts of lots given to settlers, and 
the rest divided among the Proprietors by lot. 



RESERVES FOR PUBLIC USES. 

The course of the Proprietors, in this respect, was liberal, and 
has proved highly beneficial to the inhabitants of the town. It is 
a redeeming consideration, that they sought not their personal 
gains alone, but the improvement and happiness of the settlers. 
Hence they made appropriations for the encouragement of learning 
and piety. 

From'the first division they reserved a lot of 300 acres for the 
use of the ministry. 

•In 1778, they voted to reserve 300 acres for the use of schools 
and likewise 300 acres for the benefit of Harvard College. 

Upon further consideration, as the township was large, and 
divided by ponds and plains, and as it would be inconvenient for 
the people when it become settled to worship together ; they voted 
to reserve, on the east side of the Pond, 300 acres, for the use of 
the Congregational ministry, the avail of which, should be expended 
for the Congregational minister settled in that parish. They also 
voted to reserve a one hundred acre lot, for the first Congregational 
minister, settled in the East Parish ; likewise, voted that the first 
Congregational minister who settled in the West Parish, have a 
large island in Square Pond. They also voted that the amount 
reserved for schools, be located, in equal parts, in each Parish ; 
and that the income of each reserve, be expended for the use of 
schools in its respective parish. In the West Parish,( Acton) it sold 
for $501— in East (Shapleigh), 81034,18. It is worthy of note, 
that these two reserves for schools, and one in Parsonsfield made 
by the same Proprietors, are the only funds now existing, for that 
purpose, in York County. 

The ministerial lot in the West Parish was selected by common 
consent, at the " 1st Division of lots." 

After their title was confirmed, they raised a committee of 
seven, consisting of Hon. B. Chadbourne, John Frost, Esq., Major 
Samuel Leighton, Capt. Robert Parker, Dependent Shapleigh, 
James Wa rren, and Benjamin Connor, to locate the public lots, 



10 HISTORY OP SIIAPLEIGII. 

in the East Parish. Thoy instructed ihom to select as ^ood land 
as coiilil be found unappropriated, and by this committee the 
amount was duly located. 



SETTLKMKNT ENCOURAGED. 

As soon as the " first division of lots" was drawn, the Proprie- 
tors endnavorcd cfTect the sale and settlement of them. In Jan'y 
177.') thf-y voted, that they would endeavor to have a Congregational 
ministt-r settled in the town, within seven years. They also voted 
that each Proprietor should have two acres cleared upon his lot, 
within one year; and within two years, should have a house built 
upon it, not less than cijj;htocn feet by twenty-one, and have a fam- 
ily living in it. In case any failed to meet these conditions, their 
lots were to be forfeited, and went back to the Proprietory. Many, 
however, must have failed, but it does not appear that the forfeit- 
ure was enforced. 

At tliis early period they a[)pointcd a committee to locate a road 
from the Lebanon line to the little Ossipec, through the West 
Parish ; likewise from the Sanford line, to the same river, through 
the East Parish ; and sometime after from the head of Long Pond 
to Salmon Falls River, in such places as would best promote set- 
tlements. The Committee however did not attend to it. Mr Jas. 
Warren was sent, the next year, 1776, to lay out the road from 
Lebanon to the Little Ossipee. Mr. John B. Hanson was employed 
to cut it out, bridge the streams and sloughs, and make a good 
cart road the wJiolc length of the town. The same road running 
nearly through the center of Acton is still traveled. Mr. Warren 
received one lot of land and Mr. Hanson, two lots, for their res- 
pective services. 

In 1778, the Proprietors voted to expend l.jO days' labor, in 
clearing, and bringing into improvement, the Parsonage lot in the 
West Parish, and apjiointiMl Capt. Win. Rodgers, Andrew Rodgers 
and Capt Phillip Hubbard a Committee to attend to it. Each pro- 
prietor had the privilege of working out his part, in a given time, 
and filling to do this, he was to pay an equivalent in money. 

In 1779, Rev. Alphcus Spring, Gen. J. Goodwin and son, were 
appointed a Committee to procure a Congregational minister to 
preach in the town three months, at the expense of the Proprietors. 
It is not known that any one was obtained. The next year a 
meeting of the Proprietors was held in the Shapleigh township at 
the house of Moses Coston. The voted to raise X.300 current 
money, to be levied on the lots already appportioned, to be ex- 
pended in making and re|)ainng highways, and a])poinlod an agent 
to expend it. They also chose a committee to procure a minister 
to preach a [>art or the whole of the year, within the town. 



FIRST SETTLERS. '^^ 

But this meeting was not legally notified, and the doings^thereof 
were not carried out. Another meeting was callad, and money 
raised, to make and sustain highways at their expense. 

Grants of lots were made by the Proprietors, to such individuals 
as sought them, sometimes gratuitously, or for a small considera- 
tion, but of this we will speak in the details of the settlement. 



FipST SETTLERS. 

NAMES, LOCATIO.MS, AND TIME OF SETTLING. 

It will be apparent, that much difficulty would arise, in. ascer^ 
taining with accuracy the date of every beginning, after a lapse of 
three-fourths of a century, in which no memorandum of these 
events had been kept. 

With great pains however, some reliable dates have bsen rescued 
from oblivion. The Records of the Proprietors afford, here and 
there, a clue to them — the recollection of the aged, v.'hen corrobo- 
rated by some distinct event, has in some cases bsen relied on. 
When there is an an uncertainty, it is left hlank, preferring not to 
write, than to write at random. In many instances, I can only say 
previous to such a time, as I fix that date by some matter of record. 
These individuals, might have been for some time upon the soil, 
before the action of the Proprietors, which broughtthem into notice. 

As the West Parish has been a separate town (Acton) for more 
than twenty years, and as a history* of it has been already pub- 
lished, I have made no attempt to ascertain the settlement of that 
part. A i^ew allusions to it however will be unavoidable. 

The tifne of the frst settlement is established beyond a doubt; 
though earlier than others have fixed. The Chainmen who assisted 
in running out the township in 1773, afterward declared in a depo- 
sition still preserved, that the two families hereafter named, as the 
first settlers, were then settled thereon — and that they knew of no 
other within its limits. This accords with the statements which 1 
had gSthcred from the aged, who could recollect the time of their 
own entrance. 

Timher, it has already been rcmarkcjd, was one of the first 
attractions which drew adventurers into these solitudes. As a proof 
of it, we have to state, that a Saw Mill, v/as the first building raised 
in town ; and the arts of civilization had a permanent introduction, 
for purposes of lumbering. 

In 1772, Mr. Simon Emery, of Berwick threw a dam acrDss the 
Mousam, at its egress from Long Pond, and erected a Saw Mill 
upon it ; and thus commenced operations, at the place still known 
as Emerifs Mills. 



* Fullerton's History of Acton. 



18 HISTORY. OP SUAPLEIGII. 

In th# winter following, 1773, the first settlers, Joseph Jellison 
and his son Jose[)h, moved in, and settK?d at this place. 

A daughter of Mr. Jellison the elder, deserves to be honorably 
remembered, above all others as tho first settler. She accompa- 
nied her father when he moved the first load of his household 
cllects to his wilderness home. The next morning the father 
returned to Doughty Falls, to bring up more, leaving this daughter, 
with a small supply of provisions, and a dog for company, " to 
keep the castle," — intending to return the following day. But 
during the night a heavy storm of snow came on, the great depth 
of which prevented all traveling. The lonly daughter, aijout twelve 
years of age, was therefore compelled to remain sole occupant of 
that dreary aljoile, with no human being within five miles of her, 
till the snowy blockade could be broken. For two long weeks did 
she remain, in perfect solitude, save the company of her fiilhful 
dog, immersed in the depths of an almost unbroken forest, at the 
end of which her anxious friends, broke through and relieved her. 
She lived, it should be added, to be twice married, and to repro- 
duce herself in a line of hardy and daring descendants. 

In the spring of 1774, James Uavis and William Stanley, came 
with their families from Kittery, and settled on Stanley's Ridge. 
The next spring, 1775, Geo. Ham moved in, Jis\.hc fifth family, in 
the east part of the town. The circumstances of his entrance de- 
serve a brief notice. An old hunter by the name of Wales, had 
long pursued the business of the "Red Man" in those undisturbed 
forests. When he found that civilization was pressing in upon his 
beat, he selected a fine tract of settling land and felled a slight 
hedge around it, enclosing several luuulred acres, and laid claim to 
it as its first possessor. Upon his return to Kittery, he gave a flat- 
tering account of its superiorities, and sold it to Mr. Ham and four 
of his neighbors, for an amount of neat stock viilued at 6100 or 
more. Some of their neighbors, John Patch and James Sayward 
afterward followed Mr. 11am, and .settled upon it. Mr. Ham' had a 
large family, which afterwards settled in town; and bringing in 
workman, he cleared up a farm more rapidly than most"t)f his 
neighbors. One man in his employ, a Mr. Hammond, was acci- 
<ientally killed soon after his removal, while felling trees. On him 
the work of death commenced in the township. His remains were 
earried to Sanford for burial ; — and the tree lay to mark the spot, 
till ilsi;omplete decay. T\\6 father of this Mr! Geo. Ham, spent 
the last of hi.i days with his son, and lies iiiterred in the field which 
his son had subdued from the wilderness, \^y the side of him lies 
that son, and a grand.son — all of whom lived successively in that 
ucw home, and died in a good old pge. 

Previous to the spring of 1776, Capt. Wm. Rodgers, a proprie- 
tor of more than ordinary note, and the first Justice of the Peace 
in the lowo, Jaad built a bridge across the narrows of Long Pond, 



FIRST SETTLERS. 19 

and erected a house, on the west side of it. The time of his re- 
moval is not known, though it must have been early. He and his 
sons, Andrew and Robert, became important citizens in the town. 
Though they have all removed, a bridge on the same spot where 
his stood, still perpetuates their memory, by being called '■'■Rogers'' 
Bridge,'''' — and the house was till recently standing, which he so 
early erected, and which was probably the first house built in the 
West Parish. 

In July 177S, a census of the settlers upon the township, and of 
persons who had made the beginnings but were not residing on 
them was taken by John Gilman of Wakefield, N. H., and John 
Rowe of " Shapleigh town." This gives the names of the actual 
settlers as follows: — "John Gilman, Jonathan Moody, Benj, King, 
John York, John Vork, Jr., Joseph Remmick, Wm. Bean, Daniel 
Veazy, John Carr, David Jewitt, Moses Leveret, Benj. Connor, 
Samuel Willey, John Rowe, Thomas Horn, John Hussey, Moses 
Abbot, Joseph Goodwin, John Legrow, Jeremiah Emery, Ham Na- 
son, George Ham, John Pach, Elisha James, Phillip Durgin, Joth'n 
Heard, Benj. Drew, and Eleazer Tibbetts." 

The following persons had made openings : — Capt. Zebujon Gil- 
man, Jeremiah Gilman, Joth'n Gilman, Daniel Cook, Bartholomew 
Gould, Joth'n Copp, John Connor, Reuben Huzzey, Paul Farnham, 
Ralph Farnham, John Stacy, and Clement Steele. 

As this census was to aid the Proprietors in securing the e;(ab- 
iishment of their claim, it is a fair inference, that the names of such 
Proprietors as were settled upon it, were omitted. Hence, Capt. 
Wm. Rodgers, Robert Rodgers, and Capt. Phillip Hubbard were 
omitted, who were probably then settlers there. 

Previous to 1780, Jeremiah and Stephen Hodsdon settled in the 
township, and purchased of the Proprietors 100 acres of land each. 

In 1781, 100 acres of land was granted by vote of Proprieters to 
Gilbert Warren, Joseph Hasty, Samuel Hasty, and Darling Hun- 
tress each, upon which they were then, or soon after settled. 

Previous to the time when the Proprietors' claim was established 
1782, about 40 persons had made openings in the eastern part of 
the township, without purchasing their lots or having them surveyed. 
The Proprietors finding themselves " Lords of the soil," took this 
subject into consiileration. A committee was appointed to examine 
the amount of land thus cleared, and to report what would be a 
fair consideration to the settlers, and what price they ought to pay 
for such additional quantities as they might wish to buy. This 
Committee was instructed to assure the settlers that the amount 
they should pay, would be expended to improve the privileges of 
the settlement.' Upon the report of this Committee, the Proprie- 
tors voted to give each settler the opening he had cleared and as 
many acres of wild land adjoining, and to sell each one the re- 
mainder of the lot upon which he was found at $2.00 per acre, 



20 



IlISTOHY OF SUAPLEIOn, 



provided he would sign an acquittance to all other lands in the 
township. Some settlers were not satisfied with these terms, but 
finding that they would be ejected if they did not comply, they 
evcntiiaUy came to them with but few exceptions, and had their lots 
run out and deeded to them. In certain cases special prants were 
made. Simon Emery wlio built the first Mills, had the lot upon 
which they stood gratis. Joseph I'arsons ha<l built mills upon the 
Salmon Falls River near Wakefield, and performed other services, 
and 200 acres were granted to him gratis. Dominicus and Icha- 
bod Goodwin, who had bought out the Jellisons, received a large 
tract and one half of the privilege at Emery's Mills, by paying 
£30. Capt. Joshua Trafton and Samuel Trafton had been in the 
Continental Army, and the latter had lost an arm in the service of 
his country, and there was granted to them respectively one hun- 
dred acres gratis. A blind man by the name of Kent had taken 
up a piece of land, near the Little Ossipee, and to him they gave 
four times as much land as he had cleared. To J. Jellison, 300, 
and to J. Jellison, Jr., '^00 acres. The course thus pursued by the 
Proprietors must be considered liberal and obliging. They had 
asserted a claim to this territory in advance of all, save the first 
two settlers ; and when confirmed to them by the " powers that 
were,'! they had a legal right to all of it. In the part lotted out 
thoy had been selling wild lots to applicants, deeding and receiving 
their pay. 

According to the above-mentioned vote, the following persons, 
who had come in to town previous to 1782, received gratuitously 
the amount here given — upon the lots occupied at this time, (18.34) 
by the persons named, — "■ to wit :" 

In the first Range of lots on the cast side of the town. 

FIRST SETTLER. 

John Giles, 30 acres, 

37 " 



John Davis, 
Jos. <Sc Jos., Jr., Giles, 50 

Daniel Giles, 90 

Joseph Mood)', 21 

Nalh. Thing, 35 

Moses Philpot, 20 

Ebenezer Mam, 30 

Wm. Thompson, 40 

Benj. Webber, 8 



PRESENT OCCUPANT. 

Wm. Pike. 
Eleaz(;r Thing. 
Widow of A. Giles. 
Charles Thing. 
Samuel Hasty, Jr. 
Saul Thing. ' 
Charles Conant. 
Benj. Fernald. 
Thos. (iarvin. 
Thos. Shacklcy. 



In the second Range, 
Sam'l Low, 
Barzilai Low, 
Wm. Stone, 
Stephen I'illsbury, 
Benj. Crocket, 



30 acres, ) . , . „ i t^ 
Ig 41 \ Ahira Baker, Esq, 

31 " James Stone vk son. 
^1 " Jos. IMllsbury & son. 
30 " Moses Abbot. 



FIRST SETTLERS. 



21 



FIRST SETTLER. 

James Davis, 20 

Jotham Trafton, 12 
Dea. Jonathan Ross,* 16 

Benj. Goodwin,t 40 
Dea. Thos. Shackley,t 40 

Charles Emery, 40 

In the third Range, 

James Davis, Jr., 12 

David Tiney, 16 

Richard Tiney, 12 

Joseph Tiney, 30 

Benj. Abbott, 20 

Moses Abbott, 20 

Gilbert Warren, Jr., 6 

Edmund Neal, 40 

James Sayward, 25 

Samuel Patch, 10 

Joseph Welch, 16 

Daniel Wilson, 40 

George Ham, 144 

John Patch, 15 

Nath. Kent, blind, 39 

Joseph Jones, 10 

Jethro Smith, 6 

Abagail Kent, 6 

David Maxwell, Jr., 14 



acres. 



PRESENT OCCUPANT. 

George Ham. 
Oliver Trafton. 
Gideon Ross. 
Elisha Goodwin. 
Moses Goodwin. 
Wm. T. Stanley. 

Wm. Davis. 
Greanleaf Webber. 
Widow McLellan. 
Ivory Hall. 
John Abbott. 
Elias Ham. 



Charles Staples. 
Wm. & Jas. Sayward. 
George Twambly. 
Thomas Ham. 
Thomas Ham. 
Ruf. & Ab'h'm. 
James Patch. 
Uninhabited. 



Ham. 



Dam Mills Village. 
Eben Day. 
Joseph Day. 



It also appears that Wm. Stanley, Simon Richards and Saul 
Emery, Jr., refused to sign an acquittance, and take the proposed 
quantity. 

The lots granted gratuitously, or sold previous to this time were 
located as follows : 

BA^•CTE. 

100 acres, 2 
100 " 2 
100 " 4 



GRANTEE. 

Jeremiah Hodsdon, 
Stephen Hodsdon, 
Gilbert Warren, 



Joseph Hasty, 100 " 3 

Samuel Hasty, 100 " 3 

Darling Huntress, 100 " 3 

Joseph Parsons, 200 " 3 

Capt. Joshua Trafton, 100 " 1 

Lemuel Trafton, 100 " 1 



PRESENT OCCUPANT. 

Hiram Winer. 
George Gilpatrick, 
W. Parsons, I. Stiles, 

and H. Pray. 
Joseph Hasty, 3d. 
Simon Huntress. 
Otis Huntress. 
H. Lindsay, G, Heard, 

and O. Lord. 
Betsy Pillsbury. 
David Goodwin. 



* This lot vras taken np by Josiah Xason. 

t Taken up by James Davis— who -rold and took up George Ham's. 



22 



HISTORY OF SHAFLEIGH. 



The first settlers of other 
can be osctrtained. 

FIRST SETTLER. 

Win. Staiiluv, 
Sninuel Ham, 
H. N. Davis, 
Nntlian Coffin, 
Edmund Conin, 
Capt. J. liartlett ami 

D. S. Kimhall, 
Arthur Hniffdon, 
Josiah Trafton, 

Capt. John Hasty, 
Aaron Warren, 
Hartholomew Davis, 

Ehlor Simonds, 

Elias Hall, 
Samuel Tinan, 
John Norton, 
David Boston, 
Wm. Linscot 
Joseph Linscot, 
Jeremiah Leavitt, 
Samuel Leavitt, 
Daniel Wilson, 
Jedediah Low, 
Abraham Chick, Sen., 
Lewis Trafton, 
Daniel Ferguson, 
Robert Fernald, 
Wm. TIjoinpson, Jr., 
Noah Ross, 
John Thompson, 
James Thompson, 
John Neal, 
John Pillsbury, 
Samuel Stanley, 
Rufns Wadleigh, 
Darling Huntress, 
Simon Goodwin, 
Ham Nason, 
Abraham Pugslc)', 
Jeremiah Emery, 
John Wfbljer, 
Simon Kicker, sen., 



lots, will now be given, so far as they 

PRESENT OCCUPANT. 

Robinson Hooper. 

Lebbeus & Levi Ham. 

Paul Garvin. 

John Leavitt. 

James Colli n. 

P. Webber ^r Parsonage. 

Levi & Ivory Bragdon. 

C. K. Sayward and 
Widow Trafton. 

E. Bodwell, Esq. 
Joseph Huntress. 
Benjamin Abbott. 
Jonathan Ross, Jr. 
Lyman Ham. 
Jotham Ham. 
G. Webber <k J. Norton. 
Town Farm.. 
Earlsworth Pilsburj-. 

D. Welch 6c L Ridley, 
Noah Ross, sen. 

Saul Leavitt. 
Samuel Hooper. 
J. &; Thomas Low. 
Abraham Chick, Jr. 
H. A. 3L Ferguson. 
Nathaniel Ferguson. 
Robert Fernald and Son. 
Frederick Fernald. 
Nahum Ferguson. 
Luther Thompson. 
Jordan Wilson. 
J. N. Garvin. 
Tobias Pillsburv. 
Same. 
Same. 
Simon Pillshury. 
James (^owen. 
J V.V Oliver Horn. 
John Goodwin. 
Isaac Wcntworlh. 
Eliakim Webber, 
Simon and Thatcher 
Ricker. 



INCOEPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS. 



ZO 



FIKST SETTLER. 

Wm. Stanley,* 
John Hooper, 
Samuel Shackley, 
David Thing, 
Maturin Abbott and Son, 
Joshua Trafton, 
John Thompson, 



PRESENT OCCUPANT. 

Georpe Hooper. 
John Bragdon. 

Welch. 

David Thing. 
Jacob Abbott. 
Ivory Trafton. 
Nahum Thompson. 



INCORPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS. 

It does not appear that a Plantation was organized in this town- 
ship, previous to its incorporation. The Proprietors in their records 
had usually called the place," Shapleigh town ;"— by the settlers, 
and in neighboring places it was called, " Hubbard's-town." _ 

In 1785, the inhabitants and Proprietors being m favor of its 
incorporation, an act to that effect was obtamed. The name was 
selected in honor of Nicholas Shapleigh, from whose early pur- 
chase, the proprietry came. The control of its affairs then passed 
from the hands of the Proprietors to its lawful inhabitants, who 
could not complain of the foundations which had beeu laid for 

them. 1 1 J • u 

May 3, 1785, the meeting of "Incorporation" was held in ttie 
West Parish, and the following persons have been chosen to the 

principal 

^ ^ TOWN OFFICES. 

{John Cook, Moderator, John Cook, \ 

Joshua Brackett,T. Clerk, Simon Ricker, V Selectmen. 
Wm. Rod gers, Treasurer, Joshua Brackett, j 



1786 Same, 



1787 Same, 



1788 Same, 



( Joshua Trafton, M., 

1789 N Joshua Bracket, T. C, 
( Wm. Rodgers, T., 

(• John Cook, M., 

1790 ' Same T. C, 
( Same T., 



Same. 

John Cook, 
Joshua Trafton, 
Joshua Brackett, 
John Cook, 1 

Joshua Brackett, . 
Simon Ricker, I 

Same. 

Simon Ricker, 
Joshua Brackett, 
Nathan Goodwin, 



Selectmen. 



Selectmen. 



Select )ne7i, 



* The first Male Child bora in town. 



24 



HISTORY OF SlIAPLEIGH. 



1791 Saino, 



1892 Same, 



} 



i Same Moderator, 
1793 • Same Town Clerk, 

f Andrew Rodgcrs, Treas. 

17"J 1 Same, 
1795 Same. 



JrJ 

> Selectmen. 

Selectmen 



1796 Same, 

1797 Same, 

r John Cook, 3/., 

1798/ Aaron Hubbard, sen, T.C.,Jerem'iah"Emery,^ 
I Andrew Rodgers, T., "' 
/ Aaron Hubbard, sen., M. 

1799 j Joshua Brackett, T. C. 
i Andrew Rodgers, T. 
( John Cook. 3/., 

1800 s' Joshua Brackett, 7. C, 
( Nathan Goodwin, T, 



John Cook, 

Nathan Coffin, 

Aaron Hubbard, 

John Cook, 

Joshua Brackett, 

Simon Ricker, 
f 

Same. 

Joshua Brackett, i 

John Barllett, \ 

Nathan Goodwin, j 

John Cook, \ 

Joshua Brackett, V Selectmen 

John Bartlett, j 

John Bodwell, sen., 

Jeremiah Emery, 

Aaron Hubbard', sen 

Same. 

Aaron Hubbard, sen., 
Jeremiah Emery, 
Nathan Goodwin, 

Same 



Selectmen. 



} 



Select'' n. 



Select' 



r John Cook, M., 

1801 ^ Andrew Rodders, T. C, 
i Nathan Goodwin, T., 

r John Leighton, M., 

1802 / Andrew Rodgers, T. C, 
Nathan Goodwin, T., 



r John Cook, M. 
1803 .' Josiah P. Woodbury, T. C.,T)arIhig I'Wess' 



Aaron Hubbard, sen 
Jeremiah Emery, 
Daniel Fox, 
Jeremiah Emery, 1 
Nathan Goodwin, 
Darling Huntress, 
Jeremiah Emery, 
Nathan (rood win, 
]\Ioscs Folsom, 
Andrew Rodgers, 



Sclect''n. 



Selectmen. 



Selectmen. 



> ^wo,..., 1 .vvuuuuury.j. u.,iAarnng Huntress, 

{ Nathan Goodwin. T. Zebulon (oilman, ' 

1..A . ( '!''''" Leighton, M., John Bodwell, sen. 

1801 . John Bodwell, Jr., T. C, Paul Garvin, 

' Nathan Goodwin, T., Nathan Goodwin, 
10A- f "I"''" Leighton, I\L, Jeremiah Emery, 

180;W .ohn Bodwell, Jr., T. C, John Bodwell, sen. 

{ Josiah r. Woodbury, T., Nathan Goodwin, 
Jeremiah Emery, J 
1800 Same, Nathan Goodwin, ! 

John Leighton, j 



Selectmen. 



Selectmen. 



Selectmen. 



Select) 



INCORPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS. 



25 



1807 Same, 

1808 Same, 

1809 Same, 

1810 Same, 

1811 Same, 

1812 Same, 

1813 Same, 

1814 Same, 

1815 Same, 

( Aaron Hubbard, M., 

1816 \ John Bodwell, Jr., T. 



John Leighton, ') 

Nathan Goodwin, > Selectmen. 

Moses Jellison, ) 

John Bodwell, Jr., \ 

John Leighton, > Selectmen. 

Moses Jellison, j 

Same. 
John Leighton, \ 
John Bodwell, Jr., > Selectmen. 
.Teremiah Emery, ) 
John Bodwell, Jr., \ 
Abraham Carroll, > Selectmen. 
Nathan Goodwin, ) 

Same* 

Same. 

Same. 

Same. 
John Bodwell, ) 
John Webber, > Selectmen.- 



Josiah P. Woodbury, T., Enoch Wood,, 



!Asa Merrill, M. 
John Bodwell, Jr. T. C, 
Asa Merrill, T., 
(Enoch Wood, M., 
John Bodwell, Jr., T. C. 
Josiah P. Woodbury, T., 
{Samuel S. Wood, M., 
John Bodwell, Jr., T. C, 
Darling Huntress, T., 



John Bodwell, 
Simon Ross' 
Samuel Heard, 

Same. 



Same. 



Selectmen. 



SJohn Leighton, M., 
Wni. Trufton, C, 
D. Huntress, T., 



S. S. COMMITTEE., 

Whiiing Stevens, 



SELECTMEN. 

Aaron Hubbard, 

Stephen PilIsbury,Eeuben Buck, 

John Bodwell, ' Wm. Trafton. 



1821 S 



ame, 



1822 Same, 

Wr 

1823 ■ 



( Wm. 

\ Wm. 
(D. Hi 



Mann, M.\ 
Trafton, C, 
untrcss, T., 

f Samuel Stacy, M. 
Wm. Trafton, C, 
D. Huntress, T., 
!Wm. Mann, M., 
Wm. Trafton, C, 
D. Huntress, T., 



John Bodwell, 
Simon Ross, 
Samuel Heard, 

* Same, 

John Bodwell, 

Simon Ross, 



John Bodwell, 
Simon Ross, 
Samuel Heard. 

Same. 

H. Buck, 
Wm. Trafton, 



Stephen Pillsbury,Elisha Bodwell. 
John Bodwell, 



Simon Ross, 
Samuel Heard, 
John Bodwell, 
Simon Ross, 



Same. 

Chas. Blanchard, 
R. Buck, 



Stephen Pillsbury,Wm. Trafton. 



20 HISTOUY OF SHAPLEIQU. 

SELECTMEN. S. S. COMMITTEE. 

/■ Ariroii IlubbanJ, M., John BoiJwell, R. Buck, 
\H2C) J \V,n. Tniftoii, C, Simon Ross, VVm. Trafton, 

' n. JluiitP-ss, 7'., Aaron Hubbard, E. Bodwell. 

Stephen IMllsbury.R. Buck, 
1827 Same. Moses Hemming, Elisha Bodwell, 

Wm. Trafton, George Webber. 

{Aaron Hubbard, 3/., John Bodwell R. Buck, 

Wm. Trafton, C, Simon Ross, John Bodwell, 

Elisha Bodwell, T., Enoch Wood, (Jeorpe Wdbber. 
Enoch Wood, Wm. Trafton, 
1829 Same, Simon Ross, Elisha Bodwell, 

Samuel S. Wood, Charles Emerson. 

At this period the town was divided ; the West Parish being 
incorporrted Acton. 



!Benj. Sayward, M., Simon Ross, Wm. Trafton, 

Wm. Trafton, C, Elisha Bodwell, Elisha Bodwell, 

Wm. Bragdon, T., John Webber, John T. Paine. 

fWm. Mann, il/., Simon Ross, John T. Paine, 

Wm. Trafton, C, Elisha Bodwell, Elisha Bodwell, 

Wm. Bragdon, T., John Rickcr, Wm. Trafton. 

f John T. Paine, M., John T. Paine, 

1832 I Wm. Trafton, C. Same, Wm. Trafton, 

{ Wm. Bragdon, T., Thomas Garvin. 

1833 Same, Same, Same. 
J. T. Paine, M., J. T. Paine, 



1834 ^ Elisha Bodwell, C, Same, Elisha Bodwell, 
( Wm. Bragdon, T., Thomas Garvin. 
C J. T. Paine, M., Elisha Bodwell, J. T. Pulne, 

1835 ^ Elisha Bodwell, C, John Ricker, Wm. Trafton, 

( Wm. Bragdon, T., Wm Sayward, Joseph Gillpatrick. 

( J. T. Paine, 711, Simon Ross, 
183G ; Joseph Gilpatrick, C, Wm. Sayward, Same. 

f Wm. Bragdon, T., John Gowon, 

C John Crockett, M. Simon Ross, E. Bodwell, 

1837 ; E. Bodwell, C, Wm. Sayward, Wm. Trafton, 
f Wm. Bragdon, T., John Itickcr, Ansel Gcrrish- 
C J. Crockett, M., E. Bodwell, E. Bodwell, 

1838 ; E. Bodwell, C, John Ricker, Wm. Trafton, 
( J'Jtham Ham, T., SamuerThing, John Gowen, 
( Mark Wood, M., E. Bodwell, E. Bodwell, 

1839 ; E. Bodwell, C, Samuel Thing,. Wm. Trafton, 

I Ivory Bragdon, T., Elihu Webber, Thomas (rarvin. 

{.lohn Crockett, M, Samuel Thing, J. Gillpatrick, 

K. Bodwell, C, E. Webber, E. Bodw.ll, 

Ivory Bragdon, T., Thomas Garvin, Thomas Garvin, 



INCORPORATION AND TOWN OFFICERS. 



27 



(J. Crockett, M., 
1841 1 E. Bodwell, C, 
( Ivory Bragdon, T. 

1842 Same. 

{ Elias Ham, M., 

1843 ) Thomas Garvin, C, 
/ Jotliam Ham, T., 

r Moses Good win, Jr., ill. 
1844) E. Bodwell, C, 
( J. Ham, T., 
( John Crockett, M., 

1845 ) M. Goodwin, Jr., C, 
( Ivory Bragdon, T,, 

( John Crockett, M., 

1846 ) Moses Goodwin, Jr., C. 
( I. Bragdon, T., 

iJohn Crockett, ill, 
E. Bodwell, C, 
T., 
( J. Crockett, ill, 

1848 } E. Bodwell, C, 
( I. Bragdon, T., 

( John M. Ham, ill, 

1849 } E. Bodwell, C, 

( Jotham Ham, T., 
John Crockett, ilf., 
1850 •<! E Bodwell, C, 
J. Ham, T., 
M. Goodwin, Jr., ill 
185H E. Bodwell. C, 
James Coffin, T., 
(J. M. Ham,M., 
1852-^ E. Bodwell, C, 
/ J Coffin, T., 
Samuel Hasty, Jr.,ilf. 
1853 ■<! E. Bodwell, C., 

J. Coffin, r.. 



SELECTMEN. 

E. Bodwell, 
E. Webber, 
Thomas Garvin, 
E. Bodwell, 
Samuel Roberts, 
John Goodwin, 
Samuel Roberts, 
John Goodwin, 
Thomas Garvin, 
,E. Bodwell, 
Stephen Garvin, 
John Goodwin, 
J. Gilpatrick, 
Abijah Littlefield, 
John L. Horn, 
Stephen Garvin, 
,John Goodwin, 
Wm. Gillpatrick, 
Elisha Webber, 
Levi Bragdon, 
N. S. H. Stanley, 
Levi Bragdon, 
N. H. S. Stanley, 
M. Goodwin, Jr., 
M. Goodwin, Jr., 
Thomas Garvin, 
Luther Thompson 
M. Goodwin, Jr. 
Ivory Bragdon, 
John N. Garvin, 
Ivory Bragdon, 
John N. Garvin, 
Edward Goodwin 
E. Bodwell, 
E. Goodwin, 
Elias Ham, 
,E. Bodwell, 
Edmund Goodwm 
Elias Ham, 



S. S. COMMITTEE. 

Same. 

Same. 

E. Bodwell, 
J. Gillpatrick, 
Amasa Loring. 
E. Bodwell, 
A. Loring, 
J. M. Wedgwood. 
George Heard, 
E. Bodwell, 
Alfred Hall. • 
E. Bodwell, 
A. Hall, 
J. Gillpatrick. 
E. Bodwell, 
A Hall, 
Levi Bragdon. 

Same. 

Same. 

E. BodwoU,' 
George Heard, 
E. Warren. 
E. Bodwell, 
A. Hall 
,J. T. Hall. 
E. Bodwell, 
J.T.Hall, 
E. W. Bodwell. 
E. Bodwell, 
,George Heard, 
E. W. Bodwell. 



Till 1801, the town meetings were held in the West Parish. The 
previous year it was voted to hold them one third of the time in the 
East Parish. It was accordingly held in the (hvelling house of Capt. 
J. H. Bartlett. 

In 1807, the town voted to hold them alternately in each Parish. 
Owing to the natural separation of the two Parishes, by the Ponds 
and Plains already described, it was inconvenient to assemble the in- 



-8 HISTORY OF SIIAPLEIGU. 

habitants in either Parish. As early therefore as 1820 the question 
of dividing the town was ngitated. The majority however then op- j 
posc-d it. In lsa5 the sulject was brought before the town twice j 
nnd voted down by a handsome majority. To set the matter at rest, j 
the town voted to in.-truct the Selectmen not to insert any such arti- ! 
cie in the Warrant again for five years. ,' 

It was soon found however that the subject could not be hushed ) 
so easily. It» IS'i!^, the number of inhabitants being 3000, it was 
again taken up, discussed, and carried by a large majority. A Com- 
mittee was raised to draft a petition to the Legislature, to divide the 
town and incorporate the West Parij-h, as it had been orin;inally di- 
vided, or nearly so. Dr. Reuben Buck, John Bo.lweil, Elisha Bod- 
well, Dr. Wni. Lewis, and J. C. Libby were chosen said Committee. 
In the November meeting a vote was passed instructing the Repre- , 
scntative to use all fair and honorable means to effect this object. — 
It was not accoinplished however till the meeting of the next Leg- 
islature. 'I'hc Town then called a meeting, and as it was not rep- 
resented this year, chose Elisha Bodwell Agent, to attend to the 
business, and defined the line, by the old Parish line, with one de- 
viation, so as to talce in two families. The division was then efTcct- 
ed, and March 6, 1830, the West Parish was incorporated as tho 
town of Acton. 

In the year 1S44, a settlement upon the North-East corner of the 
town lying contiguous to Dam's Mill's village in Newfield,and lying 
separate from other settlements in Shapleigh by uninhabited plains, , 
was set ofl' from Shapleigh and annexed to Newfield. 



POI.ITICAI. MEASURES. 

The first political question which occupied the attention of the in- 
habitants of Shapleigh was the separation of the District of Maine 
from Massachusetts. As early as 17&7, a vote was taken upon it, 
and the town voted against it. Soon after, another meeting was 
called, in which that vote was reversed. 

In 17S"^, a Convention was held 'n Boston to act upon the ratifi- 
cation of the Constitution of the U. S. A. as reported by the Con- 
vention which met the summer previous in Philadelphia. Each 
place sent the same number of delegates, as they were authorized, 
by the State Constitution to send Representatives to the CJeneral 
Court. Shapleigh was entitled to one and sent Jeremiah Emery, 
Esq. It is not now known how the vote of this town was cast upon 
that momentous question. The vote through the District of Maine 
was as follows : — Yoric County 6 yeas, 1 1 nays. Cumberland, 10 
yeas, 3 nays. Lincoln, 9 yeas, 7 nays — making :2.3 yeas, '21 nays. 
In April following, the town voted for the first time for Governor. — 
Elbridge Gerry had 9, John Hancock, 7. This year the first Rep- 
resentative was chosen. As the towns were then required, and up 



POLITICAL MEASURES. 29 

to ISII, to pay their own representatives, they often voted not to 
elect any. Up to the year 1S06, this town was represented but 
twice. J\loney was obtained wiih difficulty, the town voted that 
some of tlie town officers should take lumber and produce in pay- 
ment for their services. 

The town for a while proceeded upon all political questions with 
great unanimity. In 179-2 they voted again upon the " separation.'" 
None in favor, 46 against it. In 1796, though a very fierce party 
excitement was raging throughout the State, all the votes (52) w»re 
cast for Samuel Adams for Governor. In 1797, the question of 
separation was again up — one voted for it, 62 against it. 

In IS02, the county was in a great political excitement, and Ger- 
ry and Strong were the candidates for Governor. Gerry had but 3 
votes and Strong 71. The town voted to send a Representative to 
the State Legislature this year, and he was elected by 10 votes only 
the whole number cash 

In 1807, the vote on the "separation" stood 3 in fovor, 107 against. 

The political excitement, which agitated the county, and threw" 
the population into contending parties, at length invaded this har- 
monious town. 

In the year 1S12, famous for its party spirit, the vote for Governor 
stood, 172" for E. Gerry— 84, C. Strong. In 1SI4, Sam'l Dexter had 
197, C. Strong 105. The Militia was called out this year to guard 
the coast, and the town instructed the Selectmen to provide arms 
and ammunition for such soldiers as were notable to procure them — 
and to furnish three days rations, or 50 cents per day, each, for such 
as were drafted for the public service. 

In January, 1816, the Selectmen were chosen a Committe to pe- 
tition the General Court for a separation. In May follov/ing, the 
vote stood 59 for, 42 against it. 

For very obvious reasons the question of separation was made a- 
parly question ; the Democratic party being in favor of it, and the 
Federal party generally against it. It was known that if the Dis- 
trict of Maine became a separate State, it would be Democratic, 
while united with Massachusetts it was controlled by the Federal 
party. The wants of a rising State, however, called for more dis- 
tinct legislation, than the General Court of Massachusetts would 
give it. Hence candid men went for it. The matter could not there- 
fore be put to rest. In 1S19, the excitement upon it rose high. — 
Petitions for it were poured into the Legislature. Against a stren- 
uous opposition a Bill for the separation was carried through by a 
handsome majority. The Bill however required that the voters in 
Maine should assemble on the 1st Monday of July and vote upon 
the expediency of the separation according to the Act past. And if, 
upon the return of votes it appeared that a^ majority of 1500 were 
in favor of it, then delegates were to be chosen, and a Constitution 
framed and adopted. The majority greatly exceeded 1500. Meas- 



30 UISTOUY OF SIIAPLEIGII. 

ures were therefore taken to organize the New State. A Conven- 
tion of DcleL'uti>s met in roriland. Oct. 11— consisting of one from 
each corporate town in the State however small, and as many froni 
the large towns as they had sent of Representatives— to draft and 
suhiiut^to the people, a Const"itution. ^ , ^ , „ . _ . , , 

The Town of Shaplei^h sent '3- John Bodwell, J Leighlon, and 
Samuel Heard. Wm. King, was President of the Convention, and 
I^bert C. Vose. Secretary. • . , , 

On the l.st Monday of Dec. 1S19, the voters again assembled to 
act upon its adoption. . . 

In Shapleigh but 25 voted for it. and 132 agamst it. This may 
be attributed to the fact that two of tlieir delegates, owing to objec- 
tions against two of the provisions, voted agamst ii in the Conven- 
tion It was ratified however by a large majority in the btate. 

Ill March following, Maine was admitted into the Union by an 
Act of Congress — and thus the separation was consummated. The 
first election of Slate officers was held on the first Monday of April. 
This town cast her whole vote, 193, for Wm. Kmg, the first Gov- 
ernor Gov Kin" having been appointed a Commissioner of Span- 
ish Claims, vacate°d the ollice. The next year A. K. Parris. J. Win- 
rrate and E. White were the leading candidates. Mr. Parris was 
chosen. In this town he received 95 votes. Other.s 133 The 
next year the vote stood 193 for Parris, all others 29. For the next 
three years, Parris received the whole vole, with one or two ex- 

'^^In^lS-W and 8 the town cast its whole vote for Enoch Lincoln. 

This popular public officer died while Chief Magistrate of the State. 

In lS->9 J E Huntoon, an 1 S. E. Smith were the candidates 

for Governor. Iluntoon had 182, Smith ISO. Huntoon was 

^^^830, S. E. Smith, 178 — J. E. Iluntoon, 67, and this denotes 
the relative strength ot the parties since. 

The Representatives to the State Legislature have been as 

follows : — 

1788, Jenni.h, Emory, 1815 & 16,J P.Woodbury 1837, E. Bodwell 
1802 John LeiiThton,' 1817 & lH,vld not to sendlc3d, b Webber on 2J 
1805 John Lci.hton and 1^19 cV UO J Hudwell. ^%^^^^, 

J. I'. Woodbury. 1^>•<J1 , no chuuu-. J^ . ' , u ^' 

1807 lohn 1 ei-rhton l-^'-i--*, J"hn l?..dwoll. 1840, Levi Itra^don. 

iZ: n r ^ind ' 1-23 Enoch Wood. 1841, classed with New- 

' J. Bodwell, Jr. IH'24, no choice. field, 1. Bragdon. 

1809, J. Emery and 1825 ."t G, J. Trafton. 1842, clacsed ^^•.lll Acton, 

' J. I,..i,rhton. 1827 & 8, .\. Hubbard. cVc., I. Bragdon. 

1810 J 1' Woonbury. 182-.), no choi.M.. 1^44, (Toonre Heard 

18 l! J: Bo<1w.H, Jr., and 18H0 .^' 31, E Bodwell. I'.MH, M Goodwin, Jr. 

' J. 1'. Woodbnry. 1^32 .V 3, Simon Boss. 1S4S, Ehas Ham 

1812 and 13 J. Enu-rv 1-34, John (iowen. 1^.1 A: 2, Tho.^ Garvm, 

and J. Bodwell. IH.i:,, Klisha Bodwell. 1<,3, John M. Ham. ■ 
1814, Voted not to send. l?3lj, John Gowen. 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 



This town has also furnished two members of Senate, John 
Bodwcll, 1828 and 9, and Elislia Bodwell 1841 and 2. Wm. 
Trafton, a citizen of this town was V3 years Secretary of the 
Senate. Hon. Elisha Bodwell is now County Commissioner. 



RELiaiOUS SOCIETIES. 

It has been seen that the Proprietors took measures to aid the 
inhabitants in the maintenance of the gospel among them, and to 
introduce it early. Mow much was done by them in sustaining 
meetings, is not now known. Before the town was incorporated, 
considerable diversity of religious sentiment prevailed. The F. W. 
Baptist denomination was then taking its rise — the first church in 
that connection being organized in New Durham, N. H., by the 
Elder B. Randall, in 1780. In the course of the same year, a 
church of that denomination was gathered by Elder Tozier Lord, 
in the West part of this town, near Milton Mills. This was tlic 
first church organized in town. It survived for a season and then 
became extinct. Eld. Lord, I have learned, was largely concerned 
in the origin of the Freewill Baptist denomination. He had been 
ordained as a Calvinist Baptist I\linister, at Lebanon, in 1776. In 
17'79 or SO, a Council of that denomination was called somewhere 
in that vicinity to set apart a Mr. Edward Lock to the ministry of 
which Elder Lord was a member. Mr. Lock, it was found, enter- 
tained Free-will sentiments. The council not only refused to ordain 
him, but withdrew fellowship from him. Ugon this Elder Lord 
replied : — "If you withdraw fellowship from Mr. Lock, you do 
from me also, for I am of the same belief" &c. It was according- 
ly done. Elder Lord, assisted by lay brethren who sympathized 
with him, soon afterwards ordained Mr. Lock, and set apart a Mr. 
Shepard, for a Ruling Elder, from whose lips this account was 
originally received. Afterwards these two elders ordained Mr. 
Benj. Randall, at New Durham, N. H. who is generally regarded 
as the founder of the Society. But if he was first to preach the 
peculiar doctrines of that denomination — it appears that Elder 
Lord bore to them the right of ministerial ordination. 

In 1781, both a Baptist and Congregational church were organ- 
ized in the West Parish, embracing members from the other Parish. 
Being thus divided, after the incorporation of the town, little could 
be done harmoniously for the promotion of Religion. 

In March 1789, the town voted not to raise any money for the 
support of the Gospel. But in September following it voted to raise 
and pay into the treasury ^60 for that object, to be appropriated to 
each Religious Society according to the number of male attendants 
upon public worship, respectively. About three years after, a vote 
was passed prohibiting the collection of this money till the town 
should order it. 



32 HISTORY OF SnAPLEIGII. 

In 1*791, the building of two Meeting Houses and the settlement 
of a Gospel Minister was acted upon and both negatived. 

First Baptist Sociefi/ in Shoplcigh. Religious meetings were 
held in this part of the town long before any church was organized 
or house of worship built. Elder Tozicr Lord, and Mr. Abraham 
I'ugsloy perfurnit'd a pioncor work, early in the settlement, gather- 
ing the people in barns and private houses for public worship. At 
length .Mr. Nehcmiali Davis moved into this Parish, who was ac- 
customed to preach and took the lead of their religious meetings. 
About the year HN? he was ordained as a Baptist minister, in the 
dwelling house of Edmund CofHn, near the Corner. This was the 
first ordination in town. Elder Davis is spoken of by those who 
can remom!)or him as an humble and pious man — wlio, though poor, 
labored gratuitouslf upon the Sabbath and toiled hard upon a new- 
farm through the week. He was wont to say that he had traveled 
;J0{) miles barefooted, to preach the Gospel. In the year 1798, he 
sold bis place and moved to Ohio. 

In \><{)2 this Society erected a Meeting House, at " the Corner," 
near the centre of this Parish — which was the first house of wor- 
ship in this part of the town. During the next year, 1803, a church 
was organized, its members having been previously coimecled with 

the Baptist church in the West Parish, Mr. Simonds supplied 

them for a season ; but though a Council was convened for that ob- 
ject, he was not ordained over them. 

Elder Delano of Lebanon, spent a part of his Sabbaths with this 
people, and had, for a season the care of this cliurch. 

In September 1818, Mr. John Chadbourne, who was first a Dea- 
con of the church, and then licensed to preach by it, was ordained 
over it and became its first pastor. He was dismissed at his own 
request in 1822, and moved into New Hampshire. He afterwards 
labored in Sanford and Iliram. 

Mr. Charles Blancharcl succeeded him and was ordained in 1823, 
and left in 1828. His labors were successful and increased the 
church. 

Rev. P. L. Fogg supplied them, IVom 1829 till 1832. Rev. .Jo- 
seph (4ilpatrick then labored with them from 1833 till 18-1 L Rev. 
John Hubbard supplied them from IN 13 till 1818. During his min- 
istry their house of worship was built over, and much improved in 
convenience and appearance. 

Rev. Noah Hooper then supplied the pulpit two vears. Rev. 
Leander S. Tripp commenced preaching with them in 1851 and is 
the present incumbent. 

Co nc^re Rational Sociely in Shaplei^h. Many of the first settlers 
ot the East Parish were in sentiment Congregationalists. But the 
materials for a church not being found here early, those who were 
firinly attached to it, worshiped with the church in the West Parish. 

As the land reserved for the support of the ministry was un- 



RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 33 

sold, and unimproved, no exertions were made for some lime to se- 
cure Congregational preaching. No church nor society of this de- 
nomination was organized till the Baptist church had been employ- 
ing a stated ministry more than twenty years. It labored under 
other serious embarrassments, from the beginning. A certain in- 
dividual entered upon the land reserved for the use of the Congre- 
gational Ministry by the Proprietors, and used it as his own. As 
the Congregationalists were principally interested in these lands, 
they commenced a suit for his ejectment. While this was pending, 
many, apprehending a heavy bill of costs, united with the Baptist 
Society, so as to be beyond the reach of it. At length, the case, 
going up to a law term of the Supreme Court, was decided against 
the individual, but he being by this time insolvent, the plaintiff had 
to meet a large bill of costs. A Society was then incorporated, the 
Proprietors encouraging it. And in 1823 a small church was or- 
ganized, and Rev. Henry A. Merrill settled over it, the same day. 
He spent half of his time with the other Parish. A house of wor- 
ship was commenced at the Corner, and some were added to the 
church. 

Mr. Merrill received the lot of 150 acres reserved for the use of 
the first settled Congregational Minister ; but the Parsonage land 
then yielded nothing available. His support therefore was insuffi- 
cient, and finding many discouragements in his path, he left them 
in 1824. The same year, Acts were passed by the Legislature, 
authoring the Society 'to sell the Parsonage lot, and incorporating a 
Board of Trustees to hold the Fund, to invest it so as to produce an 
income and to expend it according to the design of the Proprietors. 
This was accordingly done, and $1650 received and invested. — 
The income of this was annually expended in temporary supplies, 
generally from neighboring pastors, but these yielded nc increase to 
the Church. 

Rev. Clark Cornish supplied them statedly one half of the time 
from 1831 to 1836. His labors resulted in some hopeful conver- 
sions and in a few additions to the church. After he left. Rev. J. 
Carruthers, I. Kimball and C. Parker, and others, labored with them 
for short periods. 

In the autumn of 1841, Mr. Amasa Loring, from Bangor Theo- 
logical Seminary, commenced laboring here. Encouragement 
attended his early labors and measures were taken to retain him. 
He was accordingly ordained over this church, June 15, 1842.— 
The old Meeting House which had never been completed, was tak- 
en down and a small neat place of worship provided on a better lo- 
cation. Gradual accessions were made to the church, but it still 
remained small and feeble. At length death and removals preyed 
upon it, so that Mr. Loring was compelled to leave the field of his 
' early toils and trials. He closed his labors with them m December 
1848. Rev. Levi Loring supplied them during the year 1850, but 
hey are now vacant. 



o4 JIISTORY OF 6HAPLEIGH. 

Methodist Society at Emery's Mills. Iiinerant Methodist preach- 
ers visitciJ this part of the town, and some became connected with 
this denomination. In 1N:2N a house of worship was erected and a 
congregation permanently established. For a while, they went on 
prosperously — but the business of the place declining, and other 
adverse events reducing their numbers, many of them removing to 
other places — in 1841 they ceased to hold public worship. 

Free- Will Baptist Society, Ross Corner. The commencement 
of this dates back to 1818. Their House of Worship was built in 
1818. A large portion of its meml^crs reside in the adjoining town 
of Waterboro'. Their meeting house is well located so that a large 
congregation might easily gather there — but fur long peri<jds they 
Jiave been destitute. They are now suj)pliod by Elder S. W. I'cr- 
kins and their prospects are more encouraging. 

Second Baptist Society. A church was organized at Emery's 
Mills in 1841 — and public w^orship established. It has enjoyed the 
labors of Elder Geo. Heard, J. M. Wedgewood, J. K.'Chase, 
T. Jameson, Wm. II. Copeland. For a season this society wor- 
shiped in a hall ; but after the Methodists ceased to occupy their 
house, they purchased it. Elder (1. Heard now supplies them. 



EDUCATION. 

Some attention was paid by the early scttloi-s to the education nf 
the young, but while they were " hrnlivir the busk,''' it was too much 
neglected. Some who were reared in those hard times were never 
taught to read, though they possessed an ordinary amount of men- 
tal endowment. 

It is not known hew early schools were established in the settle- 
ments. Towns were not then required by law to raise money for 
the support of schools, but permitted to do it. Though lands had 
been reserved by the Proprietors, for this object, they lay unsold 
and unimproved for a long time and yielded nothing. In 1790, 
four years after its incorporation, the town voted to raise cf 40(about 
813.'i) for the use of schools. The next year the town was divid- 
ed into two School Districts and £bO were raised. I'rom that time 
up to 1802, about ^^60 were raised annually on an average. Then 
for about 12 years 8600 were raised and thus expended. For 
eight or ten years more, from $600 to .8700. After 1822, to the 
time when the town was divided, 81000, and upwards was raised 
for this purpose. ^Vhen the town was divided, it embraced twen- 
ty-one School Districts. Now Acton contains 13, Shipleitrh 14. 

Now Shapleigh reports 608 scholars — raises 8600 annuafly re- 
ceives 887, from the State fund, and 853 from its own School 
fund — making 87 10 in all. 

For some time past, there have been several individuals in town 
who felt a deep interest in common school education ; and by their 



MORALS. 35 

efforts, the schools have been raised to a commendable standard. 
In addition to these, " High Schools " have been frequently en- 
couraged, and successfully taught, so that, of late, the youth have 
been well provided for, and have obtained a very fair education. 



MORALS. 

In speaking of the State of Society, two things must be taken 
into consideration, to wit — " the times and circumstances in which 
it originated, and the fact that different places think lightly of their 
own faults, but gravely of their neighbors''. 

The contingent difficulties and privations of new settlements, 
tend to impair morals. Unless religious institutions are early in- 
troduced, to send forth the corrections of society — to dispense their 
improving and refining influences, a lax state of morals is sure to 
follow. In this respect, the early settlement of Shapleigh evident- 
ly suffered. The ministry and the gospel did not have an early 
entrance — though the Proprietors endeavored to secure it. 

The time in which the settlement commenced was inauspicious. 
The din of war was shaking the land ; the civil authorities were 
enfeebled ; the camp and the fireside were brought into close prox- 
imity, by the frequent exchange of their respective occupants ; — 
the vices of a foreign soldiery were let loose upon us, and a fearful 
decline of morals overspread the land. Many, dreading the drafts 
which were made upon . incorporated places, for men and money 
to sustain the war, hastened to the forest frontier to avoid them, 
thereby sacrificing all the better privileges of organized society.-^ — 
Others who had served in the Army of the Revolution eventually 
settled bete. Sixteen or eighteen pensioners became residents of 
the East Parish. 

Lumbering pursuits also operated unfavorably to the state of so- 
ciety. Immense resources for this business were at hand, and 
tempted those resolute and industrious men to iinprove their win- 
ters in working and marketing this valuable article of commerce. 
The elevating and refining influences of home were exchanged for 
the scenes of the logging camp, and the incidents of long teaming 
routs. The family suffered the temporary absence of its head ; — 
so when he was at home, his domestic and social habits were found 
to be injured. Under such circumstances, gentleness, sobriety and 
temperance are not so easily cultivated, elevating and refining 
influences were not eagerly apprehended. 

It is also undeniable, that the state of society suffered severely 
here, in common with other places, by the prevalence of inlemper- 
(ince. Lumbering and teaming have always been found to con- 
duce to it. During the first half century of the existence of this 
town, intoxicating drinks were everywhere regarded as an indis- 
pensable article. Licenses for the sale of them were liberally 



36 HISTORY OF SHAPLEIGH. 

granted ; every merchant kept a full supply ot" them ; and quanti- 
ties, incredible at the present day, were disposed of and consumed 
by the people. 

Hard drinking therefore became the great eri'Z, and brought along 
its accompanying burdens of litigation, poverty and crime. 

The first attempt to check this evil was made in 1824. The law 
then prohibited the sale of ardent spirits, within a certain distance 
of any regular town meeting. This law was disregarded. The 
town instructed the Licensing Board, to withhold licenses from 
such individuals as violated law, and deprived them of the privilege, 
of selling anywhere. The Hoard faithfully carried out these in- 
structions and refused Licenses to all such persons. But at the 
next town meeting they obtained a repeal of these instructions, and 
were licensed and sold, on all days and on all occasions — religious 
anniversaries not excepted. 

Soon after this, a reform was attempted by voluntary and moral 
means. The sin of drunkenness having been handled somewhat 
severely in the pulpit, by one who run well with the people — the 
result was, a Temperance Society was formed at Shaplcigh Corner. 
The pledge of this was — not to get intoxicated. The idea of total 
abstinence had not then been broached. Forgetting how hard it is 
to stay a flowing tide, they aimed to prevent excessive drinkiii" 
only. The officers elected for this Society, therefore repaired to 
the Store, and treated their constituents, for honors received, with 
copious libations. All boasting is excluded of reforms achieved by 
this association. 

A more thorough acquaintance with the destructive habit, evoked 
the idea of " total abstinence" as the only sure remedy. New 
light arose upon the community. Societies were formqd, pledcres 
taken, and moral suasion put into successful operation. A reform 
gradually progressed among the people. The ^destrover was 
wounded, though not unto death. 

In 1838, the melancholy end of two young men, Geo. Grace, 
and Joshua Hutchings, who fell victims to this destroyer, "ave the 
temperance cause a vigorous impulse. All day they had toiled 
hard, without dinner, removing lumber from a Saw-Mill. At nijzht, 
as they passed the store of their employer, they were treated with 
as much strong drink as they desired. ' Having drank freely, they 
started homewards, still without food. The weather suddenly 
changed from a mild day, to a cold, freezing night. The .snow 
stiffening, adhered to their feet, and made their steps difficult. 
The strong drink operated unchecked and cast them down, as it 
often has the mighty, to perish. " Rum's doings " in this case, 
sent an awful thrill through the community. Many fled to the 
pledge as a refuge from the devourer. Opposition to the temper- 
ance reform was silent. The cause made a long stride onward, 
though many who pledged themselves under this excitement fell 
from their steadfastness. 



BUSINESS PLACES AND MEN, 37 

As much cider was made in toNvn, the pledge opposing the use 
ot all that mtoxicates, was not introduced till 1842 A new struct 
gle was then found necessary. Some were ready for it and tl?e 
cause moved slowly forward. The Board, for the first time, then 
refused to license common sellers, and that stand has since heen 
mamtamed. The decline of this evil has wrought a decided im- 
provement m the morals and thrift of the commu'iiitv 



BUSINESS PLACES AND MEN. 

Lumbering always invites mercantile business, and this was ear- 
ly commenced in this town — while mechanical and manufacturinrr 
persuits have not been so extensivelv followed as in the adjoining 
towns of Sanford and Alfred. ^ 

Emery's Mills was the first, and for a long time, the chief hnsi- 
ness place in town. Here the first Saw-Mill in town was erected by 
Simon Emery, and likewise the first Grist-Mill. 

Jeremiah Emery, Esq., (the oldest son of Simon) moved here 
when a young man and took charge of these mills. He was a 
prominent man in the early public business of the town, being its 
delegate to the Convention for adopting the Constitution of the U?S., 
and five times its Representative to the State Legislature. He lived 
to the age of 94— retaining his faculties remarkal)]y, so that he pro- 
cured a comfortable subsistence by the labor of his hands till death. 

The first stores in town were at this place. Gen. Ichabod Good- 
win, who bought out the Jellisons— did something here quite earlv 
in the grocery line. 

In 1793, Andrew and Robert Rodgers built the first permanent 
store here, upon the spot where the only store in the place now 
stands. They were the only sons of Capt, Wm. Rodgers, one of 
the Proprietors, who was an early settler iittown, Andrew was the 
father of the late Jonathan P. Rogers, a distinguished lawyer, and 
public ofTicer in our State— who was born near this place. Robert 
was the father of the late Rev. Nathan E. Rodgers who died soon 
after talcing the pastoral ^charge of the Congregational church in 
Hallowell. They continued in this busine.ss till lS04,and then sold 
out to John McGorch — and finally removed to Exeter, N. H. — in 
1812. Andrew died a few years since in Augusta. 

In the year ISOO Jacoh Emery (eldest son of J. Emery, Esq.,) 
and Moses Jellismi, commenced trade in this place. Jelliso7i did 
not continue long, bu.t Mr. Emery possessing the mills, which be- 
longed to the family for a long time, did a heavy and successful 
business. He'engaged in ship building at Kennebunk, and con- 
structed several large ships (here. He purchased extensive tracts of 
timber land, and became by far the richest man in town. In 18-25, 
he closed up his mercantile business. He assessed a kind and 
generous spirit, much honesty and integrity, and was highly es- 



38 mSTOKY OF SIIAPLEIGII. 

teemed as a noichbor an-l man of business. But living in a day 
when the sale and use of intoxicating drinks were roinmon, he 
unfortimately fell into habits of intemperance. The town author- 
ities precipitately placed him under guardianship; — but this, instead 
of protecting liis estate only hastened a fleecing process. His real 
estate was sold ofT in such large qualities, and at such unfavorable 
times, that its honest and lawful owner, realized but a small return 
for it. Thouffh he fince possessed his thousands and tens of thou- 
sands, he out-lived it all, and before his death was reduced to actual 
penury. He died a public charge in 1840, aged 76. 

John McGorch, was the son of a wealthy Scotchman, who resided 
at South Berwick, and who established his son in business here in 
1804. But the son was predisposed to fits of depression, or partial 
derangement, and after occasional interruptions in business from this 
cause, he terminated his life by suicide in 1808. 

John Trafton (son of Josiah Trafton) married the widow of John 
McGorch, in 18!'2, and succeeded him in his mercantile business. 
His trade was extensive, and his prospects for a long season flatter- 
ing. But in 1836 he went down with a crash, which seriously 
injured a large number of his friends and endorsers. 

John Gowen, Esq., was in trade at this place for a long time, and 
apparently successful ; but the bankruptcy of '37 found him insol- 
vent. Moses Goodwin, Jr., also pursued this business for a few 
years and voluntarily retired from it. 

Mr. Page and many others have been engaged in mercan- 
tile business in this place for a short period ; nearly all of which 
ended in failures. 

Mechanical business of different kinds has been pursued here. 
A small manufacturing establishment once run here but is now aban- 
doned. This place never recovered from the shock which Mr. 
Trafton's failure gave it. The growth of Springvale, a flourishing 
village three miles belov^ absorbed nearly all the business. A saw 
mill and grist mill still run here — and a little business is done in 
the grocery line. 

Shapleigh Corner. At a later period mercantile business was 
commenced at the Corner, at first called " Haley's Corner." A 
little grocery store was first kept here by Stephen Pillsbury and 
JamesStap.es. In 1812, Andrew Haley opened a store and con- 
tinued it about 20 years. 

Hon. Elisha Bodwell commenced trade here in ISCjri, and has 
been the most permanent trader ever .settled jn the place. Others 
have engaged in it for short ])criods. 

Daniel Lewis (son of Dr. Wm. Lewis) has been doing considera- 
ble business in this line, of late. 

This place has greatly improved of late in flic style of its build- 
ings, — and in the amount of mechanical business. A large shoe 
manufactory has been carried on here, by C. W. Lewis, but has 



PHYSICIANS. 39 

recently been destroyed by fire together with the'store of David Lewis, 

Ross' Corner. At Eoss' Corner, (formerly called Stanley's Cor- 
ner) upon the East border of the town, Wm. Stanley opened a 
store ni 1S>4,— and closed up in 1S30. Then Mr. Pike resumed 
n for a season. 

Col. Jotham Alien commenced trade in this plac; in 1S39. His 
busmess was extensive. In 1851 he sold out to Abraham Coffin— 
who rdso sold out to Samuel Lord, who has since sold out to Ed- 
mund Warren. Otis Ross has recently been engaged in trade here 

Timmbh/s 3m/s, or Shapleigh Iron Works. This place is on 
both banks of the Little Ossipee, partly in Shapleigh and partly in 
Newfield. As early as 1799, Jos. & Wm. Linscott, erected a Saw 
mill here. Sometime after a Saw and Grist mill were built on the 
Newfield side by Home & Twambly. Trade was commenced here 
in 1826 by Benjamin Pillsbury. Simeon Towie did business here in 
this line for a short time;~likewise Daniel Lewis. A bed of Iron 
ore was ciscovered upon the banks of the Little Ossipee, about a 
mde above this place on the Shapleigh side. In 1836, this was pur- 
chased by Huse & Co., and an expansion blast furnace erected, 
tor convenience of location this was on the Newfield side. While 
this operated it greatly increased the business of the place. But 
the ore bed proved to be small and the business unprofitable, there- 
fore after a few years it was abandoned. The building and water 
power are now employed as a Box-making establishment, and a 
Hat manulactory. 

In 1844 a small Woolen Factory was put 'n\ operation here by J 
Hargraws & Sons, who still continue to run it. 



PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. Ciiarles Powers, of Greenwich, Mass., established himself at the 
western bordernear Milton Mills, as early as 1791, and practiced with <rood 
success till 182.5. He then removed to New Hampshire, and finallv died in 
Shapleigh, in 1847. ■^ 

Dr. Uenjamin Mace commenced the practice of medicine at Emery's Mills 
in 1«03 or 1804. After a stay of two years or more, lie left and settled in 
Lisbon and finally in Now Gloucester. 

Dr. Whiting Stevens, a native of Winthrop, succeeded him at this place in 
1807. He pursued his studies with Dr. Luther Gary of Turner. He still 
remains, having pursued his practice nearly fifty years, and reared up a large 
and respectable family. 

Dr. Reuben Buck of Wilmington, Mass., entered upon the practice of med- 
icine, at Hubbard's Corner in 1819. He afterwards moved to the western 
border of the town, to a place called Milton Mills, where he and a son of his 
still have an extensive practice. 

Others have practiced in Acton since the separation. 

Dr L O. Wood in the year 1820 settled at Haley's Corner, in the East 
Parish, and continued till 1827. 

Dr. Win. L<-wis of Alfred, commenced the practice of medicine at the 
same pince in 1.-2.5. He has pursued it successfully to the present time. 

Dr. Horace Webber, a native of Shapleigh, practices in the Botanic way 



40 HISTORY OF SHAPLEIGH. 

I.A^VYERa. 

Jonathan Clark, Esq., a native of Berwick, opened an ofTice at Acton cor 
ncr, in 1815. He jjracticfd hero but a short time, and removed to Sanford 
Corner. He is the only lawyer that has attempted a settlement in the West 
Parish. 

John A. Burleigh, Esq., commenced business in this line, at Emery's Mills 
in IH'i.'). After a few years he moved to Great Falls and is now agent of a 
large Manufacturing company in that placi.-. 

lion. John T. Paine, succeeded him and continued to practice law till! 83G. 
He then removed to Springvule, in Sanford. 

Calvin R. Hubbard, Esq., a native of the West Parish, who had studied 
for this profession with Hon. N. D. Appleton of Alfred, opened an office at 
this place, before Mr. Paine left. Ho also removed to Springvale, and formed 
a copartnership with Mr. Paine, but died suddenly in lc*37. 

No one has pursued the business in any part of the town since. 

Several persons who were born or brouffht up in this town, have entered 
upon professional life in other places- Ruv. Geo. ^V'ehbcr, a distinguished 
preacher in the Melliodist connection, and Rev. Luther C. .SVei-e/w, son of Dr. 
Stevens, a minister and editor of the Baptist conucction, were natives of this 
town. 

Elders Nehcmiah Davis, John Chadbournc, Chas. Blanchard, Geo. Heard, 
Elbridge Co.\, J. M. Wedge wood, and Joshua K Chase, all of the Baptist 
connection received ordination jvhile residents of tlie present town of Shap ■ 
leigh. 

Dr. James Emery of Frankfort, Dr. Levi J. Ham of Erie Co., N. Y., Dr 
Ezra Kimball of Milo, Dr. A. W. Sloven.s of Parkman, Dr Timothy Wilson 
vi' Orleans, Mass., were natives of the East Parish. 

The late Hon. J. P. Rodgers of Boston, Mass., Hon. I. S. Kimball of San- 
ford, Win. A. Kimball, Esq , of Rochester, N. Y., Saul Kimball, Esq , of 
Illinois, Asa Low and S^jmuel Thing, Esqs., of Springvale, and Charles Lind- 
sey, Esq.. of Lebanon, were all residents of Shaplcigh, and all born upon its 
soil, except I. S. Kimball and C. Lindsey, 



CONCLUSION. 

An eventful period in the history of this town, embracing three fourths of 
a century, has now been briefly surveyed. By the events here snatched from 
oblivion, we may trace our way back through its various stages of change 
and improvement, to its earliest selllement — its unbroken wilderness state. 
AVc may thus call up scenes long past, by many forgotten or unknown, but 
which were of thrilling interest to those who mingled in them. We may ask, 
" The fathers where are they .''" Where are they who entered this wilder- 
ness, subdued these forests, reared the abodes of comfort, located and made 
these roads, and planted these institutions of learning, morality and religion.' 
Nearly all have gone down to the grave. But their names, their deeds, their 
memories, linger behind. These should be jireservcd as monuments of anti- 
quity, to lift a warning voice if they be fmind in the way of error — or to 
encourage to a reproduction, if they mark the bright path of virtue and piety. 
In the ordinary survey of things, we find no daring exploits, no startling 
achievements. But surveyed as deciding the destiny of an immortal slate, 
these deeds of life, rise to a towering importance, and this obscure township 
becomes the theater of the most important contests. 

Let public and personal improvement then go on. Let the present mo- 
ment be improved, the future prepared for, that our earthly residence be 
it where it may, may eventually be exchanged for one that is peaceful, joy- 
ful and heavenly. 



RUFUS K. TWAMBLY, 



DEALER IN 



••liMitillllll^ i 

All of which V ill bo soLl n> low as they can be purchaseil at any 
establishment in Saco. 

NEATLY REPAIRED, 

AT THE EAST END OF FACTORY ISLAND, 



SILK, SHAWL, DRESS GOODS AND CARPET 

HABIILTON & CO., 

^ lUilisb, ifrtiub, ^tnnaii an^ '^wmim prn (j3ooi)5, 
'^ CARPETINGS, FEATHERS AND WOOLENS, 

({ 3 K A C T () K V IS I. A X V . 

JAMES G. ROLLINS, E 

i)i-Ar,i:ii IN 

?llfi)icint,s,(!"hciuif:il'i.lliTt >tuff5, 5 antii Articles, lt)trfiinuri), c 

3 PA.TEHT MKDIGI.HEIS, FOREK^M UEE.CHES^ 

CIGARS, LOZENGES, Atc.^c, 
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